The best building blocks we've found

There's nothing to match the excitement and energy that accompanies a new supply of toilet paper arriving at our house.

You see, it's soft, light weight and stackable, making it the ideal building block. No matter how high you stack it, no one gets a bruised head when the tower comes tumbling down.

Just don't knock it over too soon, you might get a lecture from your big sis. It has to be taller first!

How do you keep your children entertained on cold winter days?

Hannah's Quilt

It's done! It's really and truly done!
I determined I would make a small quilt for each of my children long before I ever had any. Heidi's was completed while I was pregnant with her. After that the time for sewing wasn't quite so abundant as it had once been and Baby#2 didn't have her quilt started until she was nearly three. It was, however, completed last night, and happily Hannah still sleeps in a toddler bed so she can use it there for a couple of years before it becomes a lap blanket.

My little girl is thrilled with all the butterflies,

and I was thrilled that when I went to the store to buy material for the outer edge I also came across this delightful butterfly print I could use for the back. Other than those two fabrics I used all scraps I had on hand, so now Karl's thrilled that I used up a bit of my stash.

Now it's time to start Levi's!

There's A New Member On Our Dish Crew

Who says we don't have lots of room for company?

Stacked this way we can fit another 15 on the stairs alone!

Come and stay family and friends,we'll find a way to squeeze you in.

A Small Snapshot Of Our Christmas

First Christmas to be big enough to get in on the decorating action = delight!

Mom finally learning that she can just leave it the way the children decorate it = growth (or acceptance that it will all be rearranged tomorrow anyway so I may as well just leave it).
Little boy playing with new tractor Christmas morning = perfection
Want to know what elicited such an expression of delight?
Candy?
Toys?
Jewelry?

Did you guess it yet?


Cleaning Supplies!

Yes, I got each of my children their own squirt bottle and cloths for their stockings and the past few days have seen them cleaning for hours. I don't think the lower three feet of my walls, windows and cabinets have ever been so clean.
"What could this be?"
"Hmm..."
"Help me out here, sis, it might be scary"
"Oh, it's a car, awesome!"
"Now we will all sit on the couch and wonder why Heidi looks like a horse."
I had great fun making a few new items for the dress-up box this year and the girls agreed that shared presents are sometimes the best.
We also had quite a bit of acting going on around here this year.
We continued our tradition (started last year) of a daily advent for the month of December and this year our readings took us though the lineage of Christ. Starting with Him as a part of the triune God and continuing with Adam and Eve, key people such as Abraham, Isaac, Rahab, Ruth, and David, and on to Joseph and Mary.
Heidi also played the part of a shepherd in our church's Christmas program and in the few practices seemed to memorize every line. (I'm glad it was almost entirely scripture).
Between these two things, she had a pretty good grasp of the how it came about that Christ came to earth, took on flesh and dwelt among us.
How thrilling to see both my girls rejoicing that our Savior loved us and came to die in our place.
How exciting to see them realize that the true joy in Christmas comes through knowing that we can have eternal life through Him who rose from the dead!
Thank you Lord for the gift of a Babe. The gift of Yourself!

Shh, Aunties, Don't tell the cousins.

Hannah wanted to make a little ladybug for herself, her sister and each of her cousins today. I had her help me cut some felt, then climb on my lap to help me as I sewed. As we worked, we decided they would make nice "boo-boo buddies" so we filled them with rice to be placed in the freezer and pulled out when those little owies come along.
We also decided that Levi couldn't be left out, but he needed a turtle, not a ladybug.
Great idea Hannah, I'm sure your cousins will love their surprise!

Spoon People

This was one of those crafts where I struggled to let go of the "right" way to do things and let the girls' creativity come through. In the end, I was happy I did. I was especially pleased with Hannah's adorable mouths and her insistence on "a skirt over the skirt" on the little girl.
Meet Hannah's Daddy and Little Girl, and Heidi's Momma and Grandmother.

We made a Daddy trap...

Now he CAN'T get out of bed!

"Take A Picture For Grandpa Root"

"We made a bench all by ourselves."
"Heidi banged it with a hammer."
"And Hannah held it securely so it wouldn't wiggle"
"It wary strong."
"And very stable, we can even stand on it!"
"We're wood bangers just like Grandpa Root!"

The Turkey Fairy

Happy Canadian Thanksgiving from the Turkey Fairy!
If you look closely,you'll see that there are indeed turkeys behind her.
Wild turkeys.
Wild turkeys who hang with my chickens, eat their food, and join them in making a mess of our front steps.
Wild turkeys that we can't eat unless we buy a license that costs more than buying a turkey all ready to eat in the store.
Humph! But I'll move on.
My turkey fairy loved making her own hat, as did her sister,
and I had to agree, it complimented her wings quite well.

Beach Day... In October?

We found this delightful little sandbar while out walking the other day, the girls were quickly enamored and hopeful for a day of swimming there.
I wasn't too confident that would be happening in Canada in October, but God provided a wonderful bit of Indian summer and we're working on enjoying it to the fullest.
I do believe it was warmer yesterday than it has been all summer in some of the years I've lived here. Warm, and windy.
Perfect weather for wading, digging and discovering treasures.

Levi was thrilled with the outing as well. Just don't tell him he's wearing a pink hat. It was the only one I could find on the way out the door and when I tried to remove it for pictures to save him future embarrassment, he cried.
Thank you, Lord, for a beautiful day!

Glorious October Walk